Getting your doctorate in education can lead to many exciting careers. You can work in schools, colleges, or the private sector. There are two main types of education doctorates: the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education and the Doctor of Education (EdD). These are the highest degrees you can earn in this field.
People with education doctorates have a range of possibilities. From becoming writers and professors to working in college administration, the options are broad. Some, like former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal, have even become professional athletes. It all depends on your specialization, where you want to work, and your experience.
Key Takeaways
- Education doctorates, including the PhD in Education and EdD, open doors to a wide range of career paths.
- Professionals with education doctorates can specialize in areas like research, administration, policy, and technology.
- Salaries and job outlook vary based on the specific career path and industry.
- Doctorate holders in education can work in K-12 schools, higher education, consulting, and the private sector.
- The versatility of an education doctorate makes it a highly valuable terminal degree.
Types of Doctoral Degrees in Education
There are two main doctoral degrees in education. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education and the Doctor of Education (EdD). Both focus on educational research, theory, and practice but with different aims and career outcomes.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education
The PhD in Education focuses more on research. It gets you ready for jobs like education researcher and academic professor. This program teaches advanced research methods and how to add new knowledge through your thesis. PhD holders often work in higher education, both researching and teaching at universities.
Doctor of Education (EdD)
The EdD is for those who want to lead and make changes. It focuses on educational leadership and administration. This program is good for experienced professionals who want to get better at things like curriculum development and instructional design. EdD graduates often become college and school administrators, including superintendents.
Though the PhD and EdD programs might seem similar for some careers, they have key differences. The PhD is more about research and teaching at the university level. On the other hand, the EdD is centered on educational leadership and administration.
Careers in K-12 Education
Professionals with a doctorate in education have many choices in K-12 education. They might aim for roles like school principal or superintendent.
K-12 Principal
K-12 principals lead daily school activities. They set goals for learning and ensure teachers get what they need. This might include budget managing and staff overseeing. They also work with students, parents, and the community to improve the learning experience.
Being a principal needs a graduate degree, teaching background, and an administrator certification. They are key in guiding school learning and growth.
School Superintendent
School superintendents are district leaders, answering to the school board. Their role involves crafting the district’s future, budget management, and choosing top school staff. They focus on providing all schools in their area with proper support for excellent education.
Almost half of the country’s school superintendents have a doctorate in education. This shows how important higher education is for top education jobs.
Careers in Higher Education
Doctoral graduates in education can aim for careers in higher education. They can become college professors who teach students in various subjects at different schools. These can be private or public colleges, universities, or even community colleges. A terminal degree such as a PhD or EdD is common among them, but some have a master’s degree only. Higher education administrators have various duties. This includes roles like college presidents, deans, and vice presidents, who manage things like student services, IT, fundraising, and financial aid.
Chief learning officers focus on training and developing programs for school employees. Academic deans lead faculty and staff to achieve academic goals. They also manage departmental budgets and drive research efforts. Advancing in higher education careers usually means earning higher degrees and gaining a lot of experience in education.
| Career | Responsibilities | Education Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| College Professor | Instruct students, conduct research, and publish scholarly work | PhD or EdD in Education |
| Higher Education Administrator | Oversee various functions of colleges and universities, such as enrollment, student services, and fundraising | Master’s degree or Doctoral degree in Education or a related field |
| Chief Learning Officer | Develop and manage employee training and professional development programs | Doctoral degree in Education, Organizational Development, or a related field |
| Academic Dean | Manage faculty and staff, set academic goals, oversee budgets, and support research initiatives | Doctoral degree in Education or a related field, and significant experience in higher education administration |
Research and Consulting Careers
Doctorates in education can open doors to exciting work in education research and consulting. Education researchers investigate what works in teaching and learning, talking to people, watching lessons, and reviewing data. They put their knowledge to use in schools, universities, charitable organizations, and companies. At the same time, education directors lead in educational places, overlooking what is taught, how it’s taught, and how well teachers are doing their job.
Also, training and development managers are key in improving staff knowledge. They figure out what training is needed, make learning fun, and then make sure it works. With a doctorate, people can use their know-how in research, assessment, and managing programs to do well in education consulting.
| Career Path | Key Responsibilities | Typical Employers |
|---|---|---|
| Education Researcher |
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| Education Director |
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| Training and Development Manager |
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With a doctoral degree in education, you can make a big difference. You can excel in education research, assessment, and program management, and help make education better in a range of education consulting roles.
PHD In Education
Having a PhD in Education can lead to jobs like being a university professor, a college president, or an education researcher. University professors teach students at the college level. They also do their own research and write articles.
College presidents are the top leaders of a school. They create the school’s big plans, help with raising money, and work with other school leaders. Education researchers check if educational ideas and tools are working well. They use different ways to see if things are improving in schools and colleges.
University Professor
As university professors with a PhD in Education, they teach college students. They make learning materials and do research in what they love. They share their new findings by writing papers and talking at meetings.
College President
College presidents with a doctoral degree in education run the whole school. They decide on the school’s direction, help get money, and make sure the budget is used well. They work closely with teachers, other staff, and those who make the school’s major choices.
Researcher
Education researchers with a PhD in Education look into how well educational tools work. They use numbers and stories to find out what’s making schools better. They work in schools, charities, or companies. Their findings help make education better for everyone.
Educational Leadership Careers
Doctoral graduates in education can take up top roles in educational bodies. These include both K-12 schools and colleges.
School superintendents take charge of school districts. They set aims, handle money, and help pick principals. Higher education administrators like college leaders look after daily tasks and plan for the future of their schools. They also decide where resources should go. Chief learning officers lead in creating and running training for school or business staff.
| Position | Responsibilities | Required Qualifications |
|---|---|---|
School Superintendent |
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Higher Education Administrator |
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Chief Learning Officer |
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Curriculum and Instruction Careers
With a doctoral degree in education, you can choose career paths like curriculum development and instructional design. Curriculum developers make sure that what students learn connects with their goals. They check if the teaching programs and courses are effective. Instructional designers are experts at creating materials that make learning better. They use the newest educational technologies to do this.
Educational consultants help schools and groups by figuring out what they need. Then, they offer solutions and training to make things better. They use their knowledge in teaching methodologies, education research, and education evaluation to boost the quality of education.
| Career Path | Key Responsibilities | Relevant Skills |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Developer |
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| Instructional Designer |
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| Educational Consultant |
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Educational Policy and Advocacy
Those with a doctorate in education can help make laws and rules in education. Educational policymakers create these to change our learning system. These rules work to make education better and fair for everyone.
Education advocates are different. They push for better policies that fight educational problems. They work closely with nonprofit educational directors who lead groups aiming to improve education.
Working together, educationalpolicymakers, educationadvocates, and nonprofiteducationaldirectors are important. They use educationresearch and educationalevaluation to plan. Their goal is to make educationprograms better and easier to get, helping students and their communities a lot.
These professionals as educationadvocacyleaders fight hard. They want every student, no matter their situation, to get a great education. This way, students can have a chance to do well in life.
Educational Psychology Careers
Getting a Doctorate in education can open up roles in educational psychology. In these roles, educational psychologists help students through research. They assess how students learn and behave. Then, they create plans to boost their success in school and life.
School counselors also play a key role. They work closely with students, parents, and teachers. They tackle learning issues and help students improve how they interact with others. Their goal is to make sure students feel good about themselves and do well overall.
Adult and Continuing Education
Doctoral graduates in education can work in adult and continuing education. They design learning programs for non-traditional students. These students may be working professionals, people changing careers, or those learning throughout life. Corporate trainers help employees gain new knowledge and skills to meet company goals. And community college educators provide instruction, support, and career advice to adults seeking credentials, diplomas, or work skills.
Those working in adult education and continuing education need to know a lot. They use their deep knowledge and degrees to make learning great for adults. This way, adult learners can hit their personal and work goals.
If you’re an expert in adult education, you can work with different groups. This includes corporate leaders, community college students, and anyone learning on their own. You’ll use the latest in education technology to support adult learning. This will help adults learn throughout their lives.
Educational Technology and Innovation
Getting a doctorate in education can open doors to work in educational technology and innovation. Educational technology specialists use and help others use digital tools to improve teaching. They also support the use of these tools.
Also, instructional technologists make learning more interactive with technology. They guide teachers on using new tools. Online education developers make courses and platforms for learning online.
These professions bring the latest in educational technology to schools. They aim to make learning better for students. They work closely with education researchers and educational program managers. Together, they find what works best in teaching with technology.
| Career Path | Responsibilities | Qualifications |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Technology Specialist | Evaluate, implement, and support digital tools and platforms to enhance teaching and learning | PhD or EdD in Education, with expertise in educational technology, instructional design, and change management |
| Instructional Technologist | Design technology-enabled learning experiences and provide training to educators | PhD or EdD in Education, with a focus on instructional design, educational technology, and adult learning |
| Online Education Developer | Create virtual courses, programs, and platforms to expand access to educational opportunities | PhD or EdD in Education, with experience in online course development, educational technology, and distance learning |
These jobs are critical in pushing forward educational technology and new ways of teaching. They help make sure that every student, no matter their background, gets to learn in exciting and custom ways.
Also Read: The Top 10 Universities Worldwide Offering Scholarships
Conclusion
Having a PhD in Education opens many doors in the job market. You could lead schools, create policies, or work in research. There’s a big need for people with this level of education across many different areas in education.
If you want to make a big impact, a doctoral degree in education is key. You can help shape how we teach and help students succeed. The opportunities are vast and very rewarding.
FAQs
What are the two main types of doctoral degrees in education?
There are two main types of doctoral degrees in education. They are the PhD and the EdD. The PhD is focused on research. It’s for people who want to become faculty members, researchers, and scholars. On the other hand, the EdD is more about applying what you know. It’s for those who want to work as administrators in colleges and schools. This includes positions like superintendents.
What career paths are available for professionals with a PhD in Education?
Professionals with a PhD in Education have several career paths. They can become university professors or college presidents. They may choose to work as education researchers. These researchers analyze how well educational programs and teaching methods work in different settings.
For example, university professors teach and conduct research at the college level. College presidents lead their institutions by developing goals and overseeing the budget. Education researchers study different educational methods to see what works best.
What career paths are available for professionals with an EdD in Education?
With an EdD, professionals often take on leadership roles. They can become school superintendents or work in higher education. School superintendents are in charge of running an entire school district. This includes setting goals, managing money, and hiring principals.
On the other hand, higher education administrators work at the college level. This includes roles like provosts and deans. They manage the daily activities, make plans, and allocate resources for their schools. Chief learning officers focus on developing programs to help employees learn and grow, whether in schools or businesses.
What careers in K-12 education are available for doctoral graduates?
Doctoral graduates might work as K-12 principals or superintendents. Principals lead their schools. They set goals and make sure teachers have what they need to succeed. Superintendents oversee entire school districts. They report to the school board and are responsible for setting district goals and managing the budget.
What careers in higher education are available for doctoral graduates?
After getting a doctoral degree, you could work as a college professor or a dean. Professors teach at colleges, universities, and professional schools. Deans manage departments or programs. They set goals, budgets, and support research.
You could also become a college president or work in other leadership positions. These leaders focus on areas like student enrollment, fundraising, and student services. Chief learning officers develop and lead training programs to help staff or students learn new skills.
What research and consulting careers are available for doctoral graduates in education?
There are roles like education researcher or director. Researchers study educational methods and how people learn. Directors help manage and improve education programs by supervising materials and methods. Then, there are training and development managers. They lead in creating programs to skill-up an organization’s workforce.
What careers in educational policy and advocacy are available for doctoral graduates?
Some graduates focus on creating and changing education policies. They work as policymakers, advocating for better educational laws and funding. Others are education advocates, working to make education fairer. Nonprofit directors lead groups that push for educational improvements and help students succeed.
What careers in educational psychology are available for doctoral graduates?
For those interested, there are roles in educational psychology and counseling. Educational psychologists help understand and address student needs. School counselors work one-on-one with students, parents, and educators. Their aim is to help students thrive academically and emotionally.
What careers in adult and continuing education are available for doctoral graduates?
Graduates could focus on adult education or training. Adult education specialists design programs for people not in traditional school settings. This includes those changing careers or pursuing lifelong learning. Corporate trainers develop programs to boost employees’ skills and meet the business’s needs. On the other hand, community college educators guide adult learners. They help with everything from academics to career advice.
What careers in educational technology and innovation are available for doctoral graduates?
In this field, graduates might work as technology specialists, developers, or trainers. Specialists help introduce and improve digital tools in education. Technologists create tech-based learning experiences, training educators on these methods. Developers focus on creating online courses and programs. Their work helps make education more accessible to everyone.
